At least 30 kids fall ill after eating mid-day meal in Chhattisgarh

Zee Media Bureau

Chhattisgarh: Four days after 23 children lost their lives after eating the mid-day meal, at least 30 children fell sick eating meal here on Saturday. The children have been taken to the local district hospital. According to reports, eight children who have been admitted are said to be in critical condition. After consuming the mid-day meal this afternoon, the children started vomiting. When their teachers noticed it, they took the students to a local health centre, from where most of the children were referred to Bemetara for further treatment, the Collector said. Considering the seriousness of the incident, the Block Education Officer and Tehsildar have been sent to Maugaon to probe the incident. The Collector has also directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to conduct an enquiry. "The cause behind the incident can be ascertained only after the probe ends and stern action will be taken against those found guilty," the Collector said. Meanwhile in Bihar, no arrests have been made so far in the mid-day meal tragedy in the state. And school principal Meena Devi of the government primary school in Saran district is absconding. According to district officials probing the incident, Meena Devi had forced the cook to use the oil despite the latter`s complaint that it had a pungent smell. (With PTI inputs)